Chapter 505: A Model of Black Heart and Ruthless Hand

Sun Sun Daoning had not yet been promoted, but judging by the gleam in his eyes, promotion could not be far off.

"What is this?"

Sun Sun Daoning looked at the document on the desk and asked in confusion. His body instinctively leaned away, as though dodging a hot potato.

Chen Chen Guanlou had deliberately changed into a presentable outfit today and come to the Ministry of Justice to meet Sun Sun Daoning. The meeting went smoothly; the doorman announced him once, and he was admitted at once.

He said to the other man, "This is Jiang Tu's petition. He asked me to find a way to deliver it to the palace."

"You — this is sheer madness! How could you deliver Jiang Tu's petition for him, and even dare to drag this official down with you." Sun Sun Daoning's face turned livid with rage, as though he could not believe that the usually shrewd Chen Chen Guanlou would do something so reckless.

"He gave twenty thousand taels."

No defense, no explanation — he opened his mouth and struck right at the heart of the matter.

"Of that, ten thousand taels were converted into antiques and calligraphy, calculated at thirty percent of market value. I had someone appraise them. Among them there is one painting whose origins seem quite significant — I heard it was taken out of the palace."

When speaking of the painting's provenance, Chen Chen Guanlou deliberately lowered his voice. Those in the know understand: a painting smuggled out of the palace must be a Treasure Item. If it also bears the late Emperor's seal, its value multiplies. The catch is, such a thing cannot see the light of day — it can only circulate in private.

It makes an excellent gift. Anyone with a certain standard of appreciation for antiques and calligraphy would surely not refuse such a generous present. But if kept as a family heirloom, after several decades or a century, once this item sees the light of day, people will surely scramble for it, and the price will multiply by tenfold. Even if the family falls on hard times decades later, a painting like this could sustain a comfortable life — and might even be the key to a comeback.

Treasure Items are hard to come by; they are all tucked away in the homes of noble families, rarely brought out for others to see. Normally, to encounter one and get it into your hands is a matter of chance, not request.

Now a Treasure Item is right before your eyes — the only question is, do you want it?

Sun Sun Daoning was, as expected, tempted.

He gritted his teeth, appearing extremely angry.

The angrier he was, the more it proved he wanted it. But because there was risk involved, that was why he was angry.

"Do you have any idea how many people are watching Jiang Fu right now? And you actually smuggled antiques and calligraphy out of Jiang Fu — antiques taken out of the palace, no less."

"This is Jiang Tu's petition. Can my lord help deliver it to the palace?" Chen Chen Guanlou offered no idle talk, no defense — he went straight to the question.

"Impossible!" Sun Sun Daoning refused sternly. "You are framing this official. Jiang Tu is a traitorous official, a traitor despised by all, and what's more, his case involves the altar explosion. This official cannot possibly help deliver his petition and give him a chance to turn things around. Do you realize that once this official does such a thing, there will no longer be a place for him in officialdom?"

"Then what if Your Majesty wishes to summon Jiang Tu…"

"Absolutely impossible. Chen the Warder, your stance has gone astray. How could you, for mere money, do a traitor's bidding? If you act like this, this official believes you are no longer suited to remain in the position of warder of the First-Rated Prison. Considering your past merits, this official should have promoted you long ago, transferred you up to the Ministry of Justice to serve."

Sun Sun Daoning was issuing a warning — he was just short of jabbing a finger at Chen Chen Guanlou's nose and cursing him out: dare to act recklessly, and I will transfer you out of this golden nest.

Chen Chen Guanlou, however, was in no hurry. He sat down in the chair, intending to have a heart-to-heart talk.

"The court needs a traitorous official — one who can take the blame for Your Majesty at any time. This candidate for the traitorous official might be provided by Yu Yu Zhaoan, or might be provided by Xie Changling. Both of these men have stayed in the Imperial Prison; I know them. They have attained enlightenment in the Imperial Prison and are no longer the upright gentlemen who once followed officialdom's rules. Take, for example, the poisoning of Your Majesty before his accession — Xie Changling is certainly not free of involvement."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Sun Sun Daoning was nearly furious enough to die. He rose, walked to the door, made sure no one was outside, then closed the office door again. Lowering his voice, he rebuked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I am trying to remind my lord that the candidate for the traitorous official can be provided by them, or can be provided by my lord. Jiang Tu said that if he can turn things around, he is willing to offer up all his family property, to present it to Your Majesty.

Your Majesty is short on funds. My lord can borrow flowers to offer to Buddha — present Jiang Tu's family property and resolve Your Majesty's worries. Then my lord will surely have his heart's desire. Around Your Majesty are clustered Xie Changling and his former Eastern Palace officials, and the important ministers of the Zhengshitang. If my lord wants a place before Your Majesty, he must take an unconventional path.

Does my lord not wish to enter the Zhengshitang, to become Chancellor, to become Prime Minister? Xie Changling entered the Zhengshitang at such a young age — where is my lord inferior to him? Why can my lord not enter the Zhengshitang? Moreover, my lord's experience in governance is rich; he is far stronger than that armchair strategist Xie Changling."

Chen Chen Guanlou, with his silver tongue, pressed on with his blather, and indeed struck right at the heart of Sun Sun Daoning's desires. Fame in life and after death — the inescapable spell that every scholar and every official cannot escape, the lifelong pursuit. If one wants to leave a name in the annals, what better choice than entering the Zhengshitang?

Xie Changling, still so young, just past thirty, already comes and goes from the Zhengshitang — he is bound to leave a mark in the history books. Never mind whether he can become Chancellor.

Yu Yu Zhaoan, who took up the post of Chancellor at the youngest age, will likewise leave his name in the history books, and his personal story will take on a legendary hue.

Sun Sun Daoning, being a scholar and also a martial artist, believed that in both learning and ability he was not the least bit inferior to others. After years of no advancement, he harbored considerable regret. This time, seizing the opportunity of the new Emperor's accession, he had worked hard to push for further progress; so far, things seemed to be going reasonably smoothly.

But… until the promotion edict actually came down, the matter remained subject to change.

"My lord, fortune favors the bold!"

Chen Chen Guanlou, seeing that Sun Sun Daoning was already tempted, pressed on, continuing to apply the pressure.

"The antiques and calligraphy obtained from Jiang Fu this time, I have already arranged to have them all delivered to my lord's residence. In addition, four thousand taels have been deposited at a money house — here is the withdrawal certificate."

Chen Chen Guanlou left the seal on the desk. "Present the seal to withdraw the funds — use it whenever you wish."

Money-house transactions recognize the seal, not the person.

"Jiang Tu's reputation is well known — couldn't we use someone else?" Sun Sun Daoning had clearly been persuaded by Chen Chen Guanlou, but he did not want to use Jiang Tu, finding Jiang Tu's reputation too filthy, fearing it would implicate him.

Chen Chen Guanlou nodded. "Jiang Tu said that everyone in Jiang Fu, high and low, is entirely at my lord's disposal."

Sun Sun Daoning gave a contemptuous laugh. "Jiang Tu could really say that? Could it be that you told him about the relationship between you and me?"

"My lord jests. I know the rules. But I can guarantee that every word I have spoken, Jiang Tu will not object to. Right now, in order to survive, in order to turn things around, he has truly gone all out. If everyone in Jiang Fu died in exchange for his surviving alone, he would be glad of it."

Sun Sun Daoning smiled, then suddenly changed his tone and said, "If that's how it is, then this Jiang Tu cannot be kept. His family property this official wants; the man himself this official finds superfluous. If you can handle this matter, this official promises you official rank if you want official rank, money if you want money. You may take five parts for yourself from Jiang Tu's family property — how about it?"